China's consumer inflation eased in March to an 18-month low

China's consumer inflation eased in March to an 18-month low, while its factory-gate prices showed an annual fall for a sixth month, official data showed on Tuesday.

China's consumer price index, a main gauge of inflation, climbed 0.7 percent from a year earlier in March, down from 1 percent in February, according to data from the National Bureau of Statistics.

Food prices rose by 2.4 percent in March compared with a year ago, down from 2.6 percent in February. Pork, a staple in Chinese cuisine, saw prices surge by 9.6 percent, up from a rise of 3.9 percent in February.

The prices of fresh fruits and poultry increased by 11.5 percent and 7.4 percent, respectively, up from 8.5 percent and 6.4 percent in February. The prices of eggs rose by 7.8 percent after a rise of 7.9 percent in February, while the prices of fresh vegetables dropped 11.1 percent after a 3.8 percent decline in February.